The Sustainable Stanford Internship

Work with the teams that bring sustainability to life across Stanford’s campus!

As a Sustainable Stanford Intern, you support the teams that make campus sustainability possible. Interns contribute to hands-on projects across energy, water, waste, transportation, and sustainable purchasing while working alongside operational staff. Through practical problem-solving and real project work, you help improve efficiency, strengthen systems, and gain professional experience exploring applied sustainability pathways.

Available Internship Positions for Academic Year 2026-2027

General Qualifications for Internship Positions

As you consider applying for an internship, please ensure you meet the following qualifications:

1. Strong Communication Skills: We seek candidates who can effectively communicate both in writing and verbally. Your ability to engage with teams and the campus community will be essential.

2. Organizational Skills: Candidates should demonstrate exceptional organizational abilities and the capacity to manage multiple tasks and deadlines efficiently.

3. Self-Motivation and Independence: We value interns who are self-starters, and capable of working autonomously while also being collaborative team players.

4. Attention to Detail: A detail-oriented mindset is crucial, particularly for tasks involving data analysis, report development, and outreach materials.

5. Community Engagement Enthusiasm: A passion for engaging with and serving the community is essential, especially for initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability.

6. Passion for Sustainability: Demonstrating a genuine enthusiasm for sustainability shows your commitment to advancing environmentally responsible practices and aligns with our mission. This passion helps drive impactful work and encourages meaningful contributions to our initiatives.

*Additional preferred and specific qualifications are detailed within each position description below.

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Topic Area: Climate Action

Climate Action Community Engagement Intern

Position Host Department: Land, Buildings & Real Estate – Office of Sustainability

Position Description: Support campus climate action efforts through community engagement, communications, and behavior change initiatives. The intern will assist with research, content development, and outreach that advance emissions mitigation, climate adaptation, and climate justice goals. Work may include synthesizing information, developing engagement materials, supporting campaigns and storytelling, and helping track and communicate the impact of climate action programs across the Stanford community.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: Strong organizational and research synthesis skills, interest in climate action and climate justice, ability to work independently, excellent writing and interpersonal skills; high proficiency in Canva or Adobe Suite preferred; photography and videography experience a plus.

Internship Timeline: Academic year (September–June)

Sustainability Data Analyst Intern

Position Host Department: Land, Buildings & Real Estate – Office of Sustainability

Position Description: Support campus climate action and emissions management efforts through sustainability data analysis. The intern will work with the Office of Sustainability to analyze operational sustainability datasets, support emissions tracking and reporting, and contribute to data-driven insights that inform decision-making and communications. Key work may include organizing and analyzing datasets, developing summary outputs, and supporting sustainability reporting and storytelling.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: Intermediate proficiency in Excel (PivotTables, formulas such as VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, SUMIFS, COUNTIFS), strong data analysis skills, attention to detail, self-motivated and able to work independently, strong communication skills; familiarity with Excel automation (VBA/Macros) and data scripting (Python, MATLAB, or R) is a plus

Internship Timeline: Academic year (September–June)

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Topic Area: Communications & Engagement

Campus Engagement Intern

Project Host Department: Land, Buildings & Real Estate – Office of Sustainability

Position Description: The Campus Engagement Intern supports outreach and engagement efforts to motivate students and the campus community to reduce energy use and waste. The intern leads tabling and in-person engagement activities, designs interactive experiences to inspire sustainable actions, supports energy and waste reduction campaigns, creates demonstration projects, and designs marketing materials to promote sustainability initiatives. The role also contributes to innovative engagement strategies delivered both in person and through social media.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: Experience with tabling, event planning, or community engagement; strong communication and interpersonal skills; experience with Canva or Adobe Creative Suite preferred; marketing skills a plus; experience developing social media content; photography or videography experience a plus.

Internship Timeline: Academic year (September–June)

Digital Media & Design Intern

Project Host Department: Land, Buildings & Real Estate – Office of Sustainability

Position Description: The Digital Media & Design Intern creates and curates visual and digital content to strengthen the Sustainable Stanford brand across newsletters, the website, social media, and annual reporting. The intern is responsible for obtaining, developing, organizing, and managing visual assets, designing communication materials for academic-year programs and initiatives, and supporting improved digital content management practices. The role collaborates closely with staff and other interns to define visual and design strategies and support photography, videography, and graphic needs for events and campaigns.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: Strong design eye; familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite or Canva; excellent writing and copy-editing skills; familiarity with web content management systems or willingness to learn; experience with video production and/or photography; active and knowledgeable use of social media platforms.

Internship Timeline: Summer start preferred; academic year flexible

Storytelling Intern

Project Host Department: Land, Buildings & Real Estate – Office of Sustainability

Position Description: The Storytelling Intern supports the Sustainable Stanford Storyteller Program by creating and curating compelling content that communicates Stanford’s operational sustainability progress across multiple platforms. The intern works with campus partners to gather stories, draft and edit written content, and repackage narratives for digital channels including the Sustainable Stanford website, monthly newsletter, annual Sustainability Year in Review, and social media. The role also supports campus outreach and engagement efforts such as tabling or speaking at events, and uses data-driven insights to help shape and refine communication strategies.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: Excellent writing and copy-editing skills; strong design sensibility; high proficiency with Canva (Adobe Creative Suite a plus); familiarity with Mailchimp or similar outreach platforms or willingness to learn; familiarity with web content management systems or willingness to learn; experience with photography, videography, or photo editing a plus; active and knowledgeable user of social media platforms (e.g., Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube).

Internship Timeline: Academic year (September–June)

Sustainable Behavior Campaign Strategist

Project Host Department: Land, Buildings & Real Estate – Office of Sustainability

Position Description: The Sustainable Behavior Campaign Strategist supports communication and outreach efforts focused on advancing zero waste and sustainable behavior change across campus. The intern helps strategize, design, and implement creative campaigns that inspire sustainable actions, develops compelling print and digital materials, and supports broader campus engagement through tabling, speaking, and outreach events to build awareness of Sustainable Stanford initiatives.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: Experience in communications, marketing, campaign development, or campus/community engagement; strong graphic design skills with high proficiency in Canva (Adobe Creative Suite a plus); experience with photography and/or videography a plus.

Internship Timeline: Academic year (September–June)

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Topic Area: Energy Systems

Data Science Intern (Central Energy Systems)

Topics Areas: Energy Systems (Resilience)

Project Host Department: Land, Buildings & Real Estate – Sustainability, Utilities & Infrastructure (Central Energy Facility)

Position Description: Support engineering, data, and operations projects for Stanford’s Central Energy Facility and campus utility systems. The intern will contribute to short- and long-term projects related to central plant operations, energy systems engineering, and utility distribution planning. Primary responsibilities include data analysis and visualization to support campus utility tracking and load forecasting, database and web-based tools development, and support for GIS-based mapping and documentation of thermal distribution systems. Work will inform long-term capital planning, system replacement strategies, and improved integration of operational and spatial data systems.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: Undergraduate or graduate student pursuing engineering or related field; proficiency in Python, R, SQL, and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Grafana, Plotly); ability to manage and query datasets; experience with or interest in GIS; strong written and verbal communication skills; organized and self-directed work style; experience or interest in data science, machine learning, energy systems, HVAC, mechanical or fluid systems, industrial facilities, or district energy operations a plus.

Internship Timeline: Open immediately and anticipated to run through June 2027 (or later)

Energy Efficiency & Data Analysis

Topic Areas: Energy Systems (Resilience)

Project Host Department: Residential & Dining Enterprises

Position Description: Lead and support energy efficiency initiatives across student residences and dining halls. The intern will analyze and report on utilities data, conduct benchmarking, and assess environmental conditions such as temperature and air quality to support resident comfort and well-being. Projects may include dashboard or mobile app development and data visualization. The role also includes outreach to residents to promote energy conservation behaviors, including seasonal campaigns such as Winter Break energy reduction efforts.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: Interest in energy efficiency and sustainability; data analysis and reporting skills; comfort working with spreadsheets and datasets; ability to synthesize findings and present insights; strong communication skills; interest in user experience, dashboards, or app development a plus.

Internship Timeline: Academic year (September–June)

Facilities Energy Management Intern

Project Host Department: Land, Buildings & Real Estate – Facilities Energy Management

Position Description: Support Facilities Energy Management efforts to improve energy performance across Stanford’s academic and administrative buildings. The intern will assist with research and analysis, perform life-cycle cost analyses of technical solutions, and develop presentations for internal and external audiences. This role contributes to reducing energy consumption, managing peak demand, and improving building interactions with campus energy systems.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: Proficiency with spreadsheet and presentation software; familiarity with data management tools (e.g., Python, Tableau); undergraduate or graduate student; interest or experience in energy efficiency policy, practice, or technologies; strong attention to detail; ability to work independently; reliability and accountability; prior coursework or experience in energy management or building systems preferred.

Internship Timeline: Academic year (September–June), summer start or extension possible

Renewable Electricity Data Analyst Intern

Project Host Department: Land, Buildings & Real Estate – Office of Sustainability

Position Description: Support Stanford’s renewable electricity reporting and greenhouse gas accounting by serving as an internal auditor of renewable electricity data and procedures. The intern will review documentation, assess quantitative and qualitative data collection and cleansing practices, identify opportunities to improve analysis workflows, and help document improved processes. This work directly supports emissions reporting under The Climate Registry framework.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: Advanced undergraduate preferred; strong organizational skills; foundational knowledge of climate change concepts; experience with energy, utilities, renewables, or emissions data analysis; advanced Excel skills (PivotTables, VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, SUMIFS, COUNTIFS); self-motivated; strong communication skills; detail-oriented.

Internship Timeline: Academic year (September–June)

Smart Campus Intern

Project Host Department: Land, Buildings & Real Estate – Facilities Energy Management

Position Description: Work with Facilities Energy Management staff to advance smart building technologies through improved use of control systems, databases, and analytic tools. The intern will help develop methods to access, clean, normalize, and share building and energy data; support evaluation and improvement of analytic platforms; and collaborate with partners on field investigations, data gathering, and reporting. This role directly supports smarter, more efficient building operations.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: Graduate student preferred (advanced undergraduates considered); coursework or degree in building sciences, data science, or computer science; experience with Python, R, SQL, or similar languages; familiarity with ETL practices and basic IP networking; strong interpersonal and communication skills; self-starter; ability to produce reports and presentations; prior building operations experience a plus.

Internship Timeline: Academic year (September–June), summer start or extension possible

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Topic Area: Sustainable Purchasing

Responsible Purchasing Intern

Position Host Department: Business Affairs – Financial Management Services

Position Description: The Responsible Purchasing Intern supports Stanford’s Responsible Purchasing Program by developing tools, resources, and analyses that help campus purchasers work with small, local, and sustainable businesses. The intern may provide analytical support to quantify program impacts and advance Stanford’s net zero by 2050 goal through reductions in Scope 3 emissions. Project work may include implementing low-carbon IT and reuse initiatives, tracking travel emissions, engaging suppliers to strengthen data collection and partnerships, supporting inter-university best practice sharing, and developing training content for campus staff.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: Familiarity with sustainability principles; understanding of procurement and Scope 3 emissions a plus; ability to facilitate meetings with mentors, staff, and stakeholders; experience with Microsoft Excel; knowledge of additional programming or analytical tools a plus.

Internship Timeline: Academic year (September–June)

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Topic Area: Water Efficiency & Conservation

Water Efficiency & Conservation Intern

Project Host Department: Residential & Dining Enterprises (R&DE)

Position Description: Promote water conservation across campus residences through student outreach and program support. The intern will engage students around water-saving behaviors and Stanford’s Cardinal Clean Program, a human- and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional cleaning products. Additional responsibilities may include collecting and analyzing data on program effectiveness and supporting the implementation of new water conservation initiatives.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: Interest in water conservation and environmental sustainability; strong interpersonal and outreach skills; ability to collect and analyze program data; clear written and verbal communication skills; comfort working independently and in team settings.

Internship Timeline: Academic year (September–June)

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Topic Area: Zero Waste

Food Recovery Intern

Position Host Department: Land, Buildings & Real Estate – Office of Sustainability

Position Description: Advance campus food recovery efforts by engaging food generators, educating stakeholders on food recovery programs and regulations, and analyzing data on food generation and recovery. The intern will support food waste prevention strategies, develop outreach materials, assist with behavior change programming, and help implement food recovery initiatives that reduce waste and increase edible food donation.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: Detail-oriented self-starter; strong interpersonal and community engagement skills; excellent written and oral communication; ability to work independently and collaboratively; Excel and data analysis experience a plus; experience with Adobe and/or Canva a plus; interest or experience in food recovery preferred.

Internship Timeline: Academic year (September–June)

Interior Waste Behavior Change Intern

Topics Areas: Zero Waste (Behavior / Culture Change, Purchasing, Community Engagement)

Position Host Department: Land, Buildings & Real Estate – Office of Sustainability

Position Description: Improve interior waste systems and sorting behaviors through community engagement, education, and data analysis. The intern will support waste reduction initiatives by identifying barriers to effective waste sorting, developing outreach and educational materials, analyzing waste data, and contributing to behavior and culture change strategies that reduce contamination and improve diversion outcomes.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: Detail-oriented self-starter; strong interpersonal and community engagement skills; excellent written and oral communication; ability to work independently and collaboratively; Excel and data analysis experience a plus; experience with Adobe and/or Canva a plus.

Internship Timeline: Academic year (September–June)

Zero Waste Intern

Topics Areas: Communications; Information Technology / Computing; Zero Waste

Position Host Department: Residential & Dining Enterprises (R&DE)

Position Description: Advance R&DE’s contribution to Stanford’s Zero Waste by 2030 goal through research, outreach, and implementation of waste reduction programs. The intern will support behavior change initiatives, develop communication materials, analyze waste and program data, and evaluate the effectiveness of waste reduction strategies. This role provides hands-on experience implementing campus-wide sustainability programs with measurable impact.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: Interest in zero waste and sustainability; strong organizational skills; ability to conduct research and data analysis; excellent written and verbal communication skills; experience with outreach or behavior change initiatives a plus.

Internship Timeline: Academic year (September–June)

Zero Waste Laboratory Internship

Position Host Department: Land, Buildings & Real Estate – Office of Sustainability

Position Description: Support Stanford’s Zero Waste goals by reducing waste in laboratory environments. The intern will conduct lab waste audits, analyze recycling and landfill data, participate in the Interdepartmental Coalition for Lab Sustainability, and help implement lab-specific waste diversion initiatives. The role involves close collaboration with lab personnel, facilities staff, and the Zero Waste team to refine protocols and advance sustainability-focused behavior change.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: Prior training in general laboratory safety; lab experience on campus.

Internship Timeline: Academic year (September–June)

Zero Waste Strategy Intern

Project Host Department: Land, Buildings & Real Estate – Office of Sustainability

Position Description: Support evidence-based planning for Stanford’s Zero Waste program by researching best practices, analyzing campus waste data, and modeling the impacts of potential waste reduction strategies. The intern will assess feasibility, develop data-driven recommendations, and produce clear summaries and models to inform new policies and programs that advance long-term waste reduction and diversion goals.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: Experience with data analysis and modeling preferred.

Internship Timeline: Academic year (September–June)

Testimonials